With the implementation of the change in the UCT calendar from 2006, SHAWCO was faced with a strategic challenge. The period within which students were at UCT had been shortened and there were consequently longer breaks in between semesters. As a result, there were going to be fewer contact sessions between volunteers and learners, greater disruption over vacations leading to reduced learner attendance, the momentum of the learners' development would be halted and many of the resources in SHAWCO would sit idle for extended periods of time.
There was thus a need to continue the work that the projects had accomplished during the semester(s), by operating a holiday clinic for groups of SHAWCO learners to partake in whilst the semester projects were suspended.
SHAWCO’s first holiday clinic ran from 26 June to 7 July 2006 at the K2 centre in Khayelitsha and included 60 grade 6 and 7 learners from the K2 STEP project as well as 60 grade 10-12 learners from K2 who were yet to complete a SHAWCO IT course in basic Word, Excel etc.
With the help of the 25 volunteers, the project was a huge success, with learners participating in t-shirt painting, baking, maths work shops, English and writing skills, debating, presentations, C.V. writing and research, to name but a few of the activities. The project concluded with a trip to the MTN Science Dome.
Such was the success of this project, that holiday projects are now the norm in SHAWCO. Now, in 2008, Holiday is operating in Khayelitsha, Kensington and Manenberg from 30 June to 11 July from 1pm to 5 pm everyday with grade 5-9 learners.
If you would like to find out further information contact the project leader for 2008 Meghna Samjee at
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